Category Archives: Blogs

Almon Bartholomew, Blogs

“INVITATION, RSVP”

By Almon Bartholomew

I took the time to look up the meaning of the phrase “RSVP.” It is a French phrase (and I don’t know any French) “Respondez S’ll Vous Plait.” The simple English meaning is “Please respond”. Invitations to a gathering, a celebration, held for invited guests only, which carry these letters are sent with the expectation that those who receive the invitation will respond. To not do so, whether indicating, “yes, I will attend” or “no, I will not attend,” is considered to be an affront. The higher level of the occasion for the purpose of the gathering, the greater affront it is to not respond. We will speak to this later in the message.

Text: “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Thought they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

God’s Word is replete with divine invitations to a lost and sinning humanity. The door not only stands ajar for returning prodigals, but is also open to His faithful children. We need often to heed his call.

The text is an overarching call to any and all who need Divine acceptance and provision. I can visualize, in human terms, our Heavenly Father sitting in one of our living room chairs with arms extended to us. He is saying, “Please share your problems with me. Let’s sit down together and talk about it. You don’t have to draw away from me. I have everything you need at my disposal and I want to share it with you. Let’s reason this matter out. Where else can you find forgiveness for sin? Through whom else can wrongs be made right? Have you erred and failed at some, or even many, points in your life. I have the answer to you need.”

In the invitation of the text, the words ring out to all of us, “Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” God’s grace reaches across the span of time to all sinners and all failing humanity, declaring cleansing and peace, “Come now, and let us reason together says the Lord Your sins have been taken away, as far away as the east from the west, and cast into the sea of God’s forgetfulness!” Invitation RSVP; you are invited, please respond!

This same seeking, inviting Lord, sought out Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden following their sinful disobedience to God’s demands. Earth’s parents had all of creation at their disposal. They had access to an unbelievable variety of foods. It included every plant of the field, every herb, and the fruit of every tree except for one; “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” A malignant intruder, the serpent, a servant and representative of Satan, appeared. This reprehensible character maligned God’s integrity and caused Eve, then Adam to doubt God’s word that death would follow should they eat this forbidden fruit. They disobeyed big time and their glory changed to shame. Fig leaves could not hide their sin.

God came calling, “Adam, Adam, where art thou Adam?” God kept his word and earth’s first human parents died; spiritually at first, and then later, physically. In that call from a seeking, inviting Lord, came the first promise of redemption. Substitutionary sacrifice was made in their behalf and their sin was covered. The first word of a Coming Redeemer was revealed. This promise of a redeemer was designed to save all of mankind, and that redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ. The call in Eden’s Garden was the first of many calls to follow through the ages. They are registered in the biblical record. Jesus underscored this in Luke 19:10. There He declares “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost”. It is our personal responsibility, each and every on\e of us, to respond to his invitation. This invitation is still being heralded. It is incumbent upon each of us to prepare to meet our God. We each have to answer for ourselves.

The call is not limited to the struggling sinner. It is for the needy who place their trust in God. What a precious invitation is sent to you and to me in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Annie Johnson Flint wrote it so beautifully, “His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men. For, out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”

While pastoring in South Jersey some years ago, I was driving on the North/South freeway going into Philadelphia. I saw a most touching sign. It was a 4X8 piece of plywood wired to a backyard fence bordering the highway. Crudely painted on the sign was the poignant message, “Doris, Please come home. The children and I love you”, Signed, Bill. Apparently some broken-hearted father and husband went public, hoping his loved one would travel that busy freeway and would read his pathetic appeal. He longed for reconciliation. Perhaps Doris would read it. Perhaps some mutual friend of hers would see it and carry the message to her: “Doris, please come home, the children and I love you, signed Bill.” Although not often done, Bill went public with his heart. I don’t know whatever became of that heroic effort.

Printed in more than 1,000 dialects, the Bible delivers a similar message. In this blessed book God tells straying humanity that He loves them, and wants them, that He is reaching out to them. There is another sign. It is not a crudely painted message on a piece of plywood fastened to a backyard fence. It is on an old rugged, wooden cross. God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ is nailed to it. It carries the message, “Children, please come home. I love you, Signed Your Heavenly Father.” This invitation to turn to God, from sin, from straying, from unbelief, from pain, from sorrow, from need of every description etched in the words of the text, “Come now and let us reason together says the Lord.”

Jesus illustrates his concern by telling us that he is the seeking, searching shepherd calling you and me. Luke 15:4-32 records a three part parable taught by Jesus. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. This one tells us how the Lord deals with lost things. The three parts deal with a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son. They are all sought and found. Their discovery and rescue ends with scenes of rejoicing. Time permits us only to examine one; the lost sheep.

The shepherd had 100 sheep. Ninety nine were safe in the fold. One had strayed and went far from the shepherd and faced a dire end. At the jeopardy of his own life, the shepherd seeks and finds the lost sheep and returns it safely to be numbered with the 99. Unconfined joy reigned in the sheep corral. It is a picture of Jesus seeking the lost, finding the straying, bringing them home, restoring them and bringing joy to all who were in the shepherd’s watch care. This story is amplified in John chapter ten where Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd. I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Ira Sankey, who sang in Dwight L. Moody’s Evangelistic campaigns in the late eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds, wrote a vibrant hymn, “The Ninety And Nine”. Many thousands turned to Christ in those days.

“There were ninety and nine that safely lay in the shelter of the fold.

But one was out on the hills away, far off from the gates of gold.

Away on the mountains, wild and bare, away from the tender Shepherd’s care; Away from the tender shepherd’s care.

“Lord, thou hast here Thy ninety and nine; are they not enough for thee?

But the Shepherd made answer: “This of mine has wandered away from me.”

“And altho’ the road is rough and steep, I go to the desert to find my sheep; I go to the desert to find my sheep.

Sing next two verses.

“But none of the ransomed ever knew how deep were the waters crossed’

Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through ‘ere He found his sheep that was lost.

Out in the desert He heard its cry, sick and helpless and ready to die; sick and helpless and ready to die.

“But all through the mountains, thunder driv’n, and up from the rocky steep;

There arose a glad cry to the gates of Heaven, Rejoice I have found my sheep.

And the Angels echoed around the throne;

Rejoice, for the Lord brings back his own, Rejoice for the Lord brings back his own!”

Yes, friends, Jesus Christ endured the agony of crucifixion; He died an atoning death to bring us back to God.

On the cross Jesus invited, and welcomed a repentant thief in to paradise. Upon his resurrection Jesus sent for Peter who had failed Him miserably. This disciple received Jesus personal invitation and was restored. He became the chief spokesman for the early church. That call, that invitation still comes in the words of Jesus, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and him with me”. Revelation 3:20. “And the Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!”, and let him who hears, “Come!”. And let him who thirsts “Come!” And whoever desires let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.

Let us take another look at “Invitation RSVP.” Going up the scale, with a simple family picnic to a wedding reception, to a Golden Wedding Anniversary, to a presidential state dinner to a Royal’s dinner in Buckingham Palace, the demand for a response rises higher. Now, think about it; when the gates of heaven are flung wide open, and each one, and all of us are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb, all the invited guests who have responded will be there. You and I have been invited. The bridegroom is the Lord Jesus Christ. The bride is his church, that body of people who have received the Invitation RSVP and who have accepted the invitation. What are you, are we, going to do about it? Will you be there? You can be! This entreaty is found in uncounted Bible passages. Believe it! Act on it! You and I have everything to gain and nothing to lose by doing so!

“”I owed a debt I could not pay. He paid a debt he did not owe; I needed someone to take my sin away.

And now I sing a brand new song, Amazing Grace.

He paid a debt for me that I could never pay” (author unknown to me).

In this thanksgiving season it is only right for us to respond to God’s overtures of love and His offer of eternal salvation. He opened the door for us and beckons us to enter. Thank Him for making possible our acceptance of his offer which allows us entrance to heaven and dwelling with the Lord and his saints forever, and forever.

Reverend Al & Joyce Bartholomew, South Glens Falls, New York

 

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford, Uncategorized

“GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME” REALLY?

Psalm 73

April 22, 2018 10:30 AM
Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Pastor

TODAY’S FUNNY: “Rich Man In Heaven”

A wealthy man died and went to heaven. He was met at the Pearly Gates by Saint Peter who led him down the streets of gold.
They passed mansion after mansion until they came to the very end of the street. Saint Peter stopped the rich man in front of a little shack.
“This belongs to you,” said Saint Peter.
“Why do I get this ugly thing when there are so many mansions I could live in?” the man demanded.
“Well,“ Peter replied, “We did the best we could with the money you sent us!”.

INTRODUCTION: “God is good!”

We often exclaim in a most proud and thankful way when referring to when things are going overwhelmingly great! In fact, the only time the phrase “God is good” appears in our NIV Bibles is right here in Psalm 73:1! It is as if God has an exclusive “in” when it comes to goodness. And we are often on PRAISE ALERT when things are going our way. But what about when everyone else who has no use for God are getting in on the good life? What is the point, then, in following the Lord at all? Ps. 73 tells us! In fact, there are at least 3 words which are the heart of this psalm. Perhaps they are the heart of your following of the Lord, too. PRAYER

#1 “BUT” (184 times in Psalms alone)

Verse 2, Asaph (v.1) says that God is good to Israel, to those who are “pure in heart”. That phrase should sound familiar! In the Sermon on the Mount in what has become known as the “Beatitudes” (or, as Dr. Warren Wiersbe wrote, the “BE-Attitudes”), the Lord Jesus uses this phrase to make an eternal point. Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” They are “blessed” = HAPPY! And the “pure in heart” will see God. How? All the available translations I have access to simply say the pure in heart will see God, except for one translation. Eugene Peterson’s “The Message” is very helpful, “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.” (the world in which we all live). So Asaph starts this psalm out on a wonderful, lofty, and exuberant high note!

Then comes v. 2, the dreaded “but”: “BUT as for me…”. What happened? The “BUT” forms a contrast from the blessing of seeing God in display in his life, to seeing those who are high-minded and successful, BUT have no use for God in their lives. It’s as if Asaph will soon say, “why bother loving, trusting, worshiping the true God?” Today he would say, “you say you love Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. You say He died for your sins on the cross. BUT there are many who don’t say they love Jesus – except perhaps to swear – and they are seemingly HAPPY, too! What’s the use?
Is Asaph where you are today? If so, you will find this to be a good psalm!

v. 25-26 Beginning with v. 23, the psalmist has an exclamation of praise! Look at his foundational verses (vs. 23-24). Here is an OT passage where the writer has a confidence that God will one day take him to glory. There is no mention here of “works”; there is no mention of “if I do more good deeds than bad deeds, God’s scale of justice will HAVE to go my way.” Rather, Asaph’s entire eternal trust is in the Lord, alone! And note vs. 26: Asaph’s flesh and heart may fail. He may have absolutely no physical, emotional, and mental ground to stand on. BUT God is his strength: literally, that means God is his ROCK – his foundation. Outward circumstances did not matter – Asaph had an internal trust which gave him – what was that in v. 1? – a happy face!

v. 28 But wait, there’s more! Asaph shows that God is a personal God. “As for me” – Asaph has learned that God is not a far off. He is personal. God is near. And because of that, Asaph will tell the whole world!

Eph. 2:4 Read vs. 1-4, a wonderful comparative in contrast to what we were without the Lord Jesus, and what God did to draw us to Himself! He has done that for you! Do you trust Him?

#2 “SURELY” (28 times in Psalms)
v. 1 Truly. No doubt about it! (Message!) What should be of interest to us is that Asaph – under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – used the word “Elohim” as the name for “God” in verse 1. “Elohim” basically means “strength” or “power”. But also of interest is that “Elohim” is a plural noun. The essence is of a plurality in unity. So the Trinity is at action here when He is good to Israel!

v. 13 Asaph is using the same word as found in v. 1. Let’s read it that way: “Truly. No doubt about it!” I have kept my heart pure for empty reasons. Asaph is discouraged as he watches those without God finding happiness, but without God. He is making a declaration based upon his observance of OUTWARD EVIDENCE, but NOT upon the evidence of the heart – which evidence only God can see.

v. 18 And then comes what I call the “banana peel” effect. Asaph realizes that those who have no use for God really don’t have any foundation. Their lives aren’t governed by the eternal, but by the heart which “is deceitful and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). They are living on a slope and have no control over their future, nor of their downfall. And that is “truly. No doubt about it!”.
I like the familiar uses: “SURELY goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I WILL dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Ps. 23:6)

And, after the Lord Jesus tells His disciples of all time what He wants us to do with our lives – reproduce through the cross and teach all who come our way – He makes this “Truly! No doubt about it” promise: Matt. 28:20b, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus’ presence enables the disciple of Christ to do anything and in any place which Jesus wants the child of God to do! Truly! No doubt about it!

#3 “TILL” v. 17 (11 times in Psalms)
This last word forms the center of the heart of Asaph’s wonderful psalm. He remembers (v.1) his foundation: God is good all the time! But for a brief moment, he takes his eyes off of the foundation and looks at the reality of the world around Him. He looks at people. He looks at their seeming success. He looks at circumstances. He moans. He mourns. Perhaps he even gets angry when he thinks others who have no use for God seemingly are getting it all, and Asaph is getting nothing.

“Till” (v. 17). This, like “but”, is a word of introductory contrast. Read vs. 15-16 before it, and then add “Till”. Till what? Till he sees their final destiny. Their eternity is empty. And if their eternity is empty, what is their present day value as well? EMPTY!

Solomon would use this same imagery in Ecclesiastes when he wrote, “vanity of vanity, all is vanity”. “Vanity” means “emptiness”. So what he is really writing is “emptiness of emptiness, all is emptiness.” What is? The look at life without looking through the eyes of the presence of the living God.

I like what Gen. 32:24 shouts out about Jacob’s change in focus, “So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.” Jacob later realized he had wrestled with the Captain of the Lord’s armies, the King of kings Himself – even the Lord Jesus. And note that that wrestling had a time limit – daybreak. The wrestlings of our lives will not be forever. They have a purposeful time frame, one which is designed to make us like Christ in character and purpose.

CONCLUSION So, God is good all the time – Really!

BUT have you had a pity party lately, I mean a real deep down boo hoo pity whoa is me party? One that looks at others, sees their successes yet without any use for the living God, and wonder where the goodness of God is? Asaph said, “consider their final destiny”. Then you will shout Truly! No doubt about it! God is good all the time!

Really!

Now, Pray…

Inviting and Accepting
Blogs, John Grant

RUN TO WIN

Week Seventeen, 2018

RUN TO WIN

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 1 Corinthians 9:24

Aric Almirola walked from the infield care center and back to the garage area at Daytona International Speedway. His day was done, and with it a dream, the biggest you can have. “My heart is broken,” Almirola said.

He was a handful of seconds from history. He had grabbed the lead before the white flag dropped and was going down the backstretch and he was going to win the Daytona 500. He was in the lead, heading for home. A nudge. A tap. That was all it took.

Austin Dillon’s front bumper touched Almirola’s rear bumper. And that was that. The race leader spun and wrecked. Dillon won the Daytona 500. “I did everything I could,” Almirola said. “I put myself in a position to win the Daytona 500. I did everything to try to win.”

He was less than a lap from living the dream he began having as a child, when his family traveled to Daytona’s high banks to watch the racing. Winning the 500 was a dream in his racing career.

Race!

Jesus calls us to be winners… winners for Him. In the race of life, we all participate, but not everyone wins. Usually the race is whatever is in our heart. It may be advancing to be the CEO of your company, winning an election or making a million dollars.

The Christian life is a race. In other words life is not a game with no lasting consequences. The way we live our lives has eternal consequences. Life is a proving ground where we prove who we are, whom we trust, and what we cherish. Eternal life, the upward call, the crown of righteousness — all these hang on what our life says about who we are, whom we trust, and what we love.

What are you running to win?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

THE WARNING:

Every hour on the hour in the ancient market square of Krakow, Poland, a trumpeter steps up to the drafty window of St Mary’s Basilica’s tallest tower and plays a tune called the “hejnal.”

The simple yet haunting piece is repeated four times, each time facing a different cardinal direction. This beautifully unique tradition is done 365 days a year to honor a brave watchman who gave his life in the 13th century in defense of his little town of Krakow.

Story has it the watchman spotted a growing cloud of dust in the distance and realized a Tartar invasion was on its way to bring horror and misery to his people. The watchman seized his trumpet and belted out a warning prodding the sleepy village to spring into action and protect its innocent inhabitants. The clever musical siren was a success and the enemy was fended off, but at a high price.

The brave watchman was shot through the throat by an arrow from the enemy’s leader. The last note of this commemorative tune is a long half note to represent the last sound played by the trumpeter as he was murdered.

How will you be remembered?

–o–

Obituary:

Joe’s wife passed away and he wanted to keep the obituary as short as possible, so he penned “Sally Smith died.” When the funeral home told him that the minimum wordage was six words, he added “Car for sale.”

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God. —Billy Graham.

I knew the end of the story, just like the Bible. —Winston Churchill

How will young people learn to love The Lord if they don’t see that love being modeled for them? Dwight Short

It’s just as hard to attain satisfaction and success from attaining goals we don’t have as it is to get pleasure from reminiscing about things we haven’t done. —Ernie J. Zelinski

Positive thinking is of zero value without positive doing. —Robert Sharma

None are so good they need not be saved – None are so bad they cannot be saved. —Ken Whitten

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2018

©2018 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618
Almon Bartholomew, Blogs, Uncategorized

“Apples of Gold”

“Apples of Gold”

By Almon Bartholomew

 A word fitly spoken is like apples of Gold in settings of silver (Proverbs 25:11).

 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

Words, words, words! Where do they all come from? There is an ocean of words in the English language. The Webster’s Third New International Dictionary has a vocabulary of more than 450,000 words. An average person uses 12,000-20,000 words in his vocabulary. A university graduate may use 20,000-25,000- Shakespeare used approximately 30,000 words in his writings and his vocabulary is estimated to have been 60,000 words. I wouldn’t want to have played scrabble with him!

One of our acquaintances was a very fast talker. She would speak 200 words per minute with gusts to 250! She was a little like the woman who wanted to get a divorce. In court the judge asked why she wanted to get a divorce. She said “Your honor, my husband hasn’t spoken to me in four years”. Judge to the man: “Is it true that you haven’t spoken to your wife in four years? He replied “Yes your honor”. Judge to the man: “Why did you not speak to her for four years”? He replied “I didn’t want to interrupt her”.

Words are powerful things. They can heal, they can hurt. They can bless, they can blight. They can lift, they can put down. They can motivate, they can devastate. They may clarify, they may confuse. It has been said, “Talk may be cheap, but you can’t buy it back”.

Out of all the torrent of words in our vocabulary, the writer of the Proverbs urges one to be very selective in his use of words. We are encouraged to use our tongues to speak words aptly chosen, and applicable to the particular circumstance thus giving them a gold like quality.

Most of us have, or had, valued treasures on display in our homes. To us, these were priceless. Silver frames hold golden gems that are not for sale at any price. Such are these special, fitting words. They are characterized by the message they convey, what is said, how it is said, and when it is said. Let us look at some of these treasured verbal messages.

High on that list are words of kindness we can speak. In Proverbs chapter 31:26, the honored woman is said to have spoken wisdom with her mouth and the law of kindness was on her tongue. In a desperately cruel world there is a need to speak, and show, kindness. We are admonished in Ephesians 4:32 to be kind, one to another. Kindness costs nothing, but it pays great dividends. Many people are caustic and sarcastic in their remarks, inflicting pain on others. Let us not be part of that crowd, but rather spread the healing quality of kindness shown to everyone. This a virtue you can practice every day right beginning in your dwelling place.

Guidance is essential in the midst of confusion. These words are also a treasure. Joseph gave wise counsel to the Pharaoh in Egypt when he faced a pending famine. This word, fitly spoken, has spared our nation and its surrounding neighbors. This world needs wise counsel. We certainly are not finding it in today’s government.

I have been thankful for wise counsel given to us in critical decision times in our life. There are a few very special people, blessed with divinely inspired wisdom that provide direction, sometimes advising us to go forward, sometimes to stand still, and, sometimes to take a different track. It is needful for us to pray, each one of us, even in our senior years, for God to impart to us wisdom so that we may be able to pursue the right path and influence others to do the same. Thank God for trusted counselors who still share gems of wisdom. Such people have helped us through the years.

Forgiveness is a great word. At times it is important for us to ask forgiveness and just as important to grant forgiveness. Many people carry a burden of guilt for wrongs they may, or may not have committed. When you grant unconditional forgiveness to a person who has harmed you in some way you free two people, the wrongdoer and yourself. God has forgiven us and we should forgive one another. In fact, this principle is embedded in the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us”. In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus said “If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses”. Grudges held, hard feelings harbored, and an unforgiving heart, if these are found in us they will bankrupt us spiritually. We can’t afford such loss. Forgiveness is a precious golden apple in this setting.

Comfort joins the parade of valued words. The broken hearted of this world, the persons pained by the passing of a loved one, those who are devastated by loss of home, or loss of friendships, all of these, and more, need a word of genuine comfort. ! Corinthians 1:3-4 speaks clearly in this exhortation: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we are comforted by God”. Many of us here have lost the nearest and dearest. God visited us in those dark hours. He also sends to us those special people who bring us comfort, sometimes with words, sometimes just by silently standing by.

It can be a timely phone call. It can be a time of listening. It can be a card of greeting with a verse that will bring comfort. It can be a brief, but helpful visit. For those who have the freedom to do so, it can be a pot of homemade chicken soup. Whatever the venue may be, let us give an apple of gold to someone this week by extending to them God given comfort.

Hope is another golden apple. The Apostle Paul was a prisoner on board a ship which had set sail for Rome, the capital of the empire. Just south of the island of Malta an ultra severe storm battered their ship. The tempest continued for fourteen days. By all appearance a desperate tragedy was imminent. The scripture in Acts 27:20 reads “All hope that we should be saved would was taken away”.

But, one man, Paul, was visited by the angel of the Lord. While standing on the convulsing deck of a sinking ship he received a message that, in spite of the circumstances, and the loss of the ship and its cargo, every person on board would be saved. When he told the crew, the soldiers and the prisoners this promise of help and urged them to good cheer. They thought Paul was hallucinating. However, they were saved, no loss of life occurred as they were cast up on the island. Although the candle of hope had blown out, it was ignited once again. Hope was the golden apple in that bushel!

While strolling through the orchard of trees that yield apples of gold we find the tree which bears words of faith. We are told in Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”. When we read God’s word our faith is built up and we become stronger. As we assimilate these words into the fabric of our lives we can share this word with others and we will help them build up their faith. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews gives us an orchard full of golden apples; a litany of accomplishments achieved by faith. Why not share one of these golden apples a day and offer one of them to a friend?

Perhaps the golden apple that provides the most enduring health to the soul is love. The characteristics of this love are outlined in 1 Corinthians 13. Among the soul helping vitamins is patience, kindness, humility, good behavior, unselfishness, positive thinking, truthfulness, forbearance and endurance. This one a day vitamin will enhance our spiritual vitality and enable us to share it with others. The first Epistle of John tells us that God is love and that those who are possessed of that love know God. “Oh, Lord, please let me devour this precious fruit today and share some with my neighbors”.

Take a look at the golden apples harvested in this message; kindness, guidance, wisdom, forgiveness, comfort, hope, faith and love. What an orchard!!! These, words found in scripture, are worthy of meditation. As we utter them we discover them to be acceptable in God’s sight. In closing, Galatians 5:22-23 gives us an inventory of the Holy Spirit’s fruit made abundantly available to us. Here they are; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. Take home a barrel full of these apples of gold, and have plenty to share with somebody else. As the old folks used to say when I was a kid;

“HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?” !!!!


Al & Joyce Bartholomew

Al Bartholomew spent many years as a pastor, and later nurtured other pastors and workers.

 

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford, Uncategorized

“I’M THE TAXMAN”

April 15, 2018 10:30 AM

“I’M THE TAXMAN”

Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Pastor

TODAY’S FUNNY:

“The Witnesses”

Saturday morning the weather was too bad to play golf. The old man was bored with nothing to do. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. He opened it to find two young, well-dressed men standing there who said:

“Hello sir, We’re from the Kingdom Hall and we’d like to talk with you.”

So the man said, “Come in and have a seat!” He offered them a fresh cup of coffee and asked, “What do you young men want to talk about?”

They looked at each other & said, “Beats us. We never got this far before.”

INTRODUCTION

Today is traditionally the day when taxes are due in New York State. But does the Bible have anything to say about taxes? Don’t you wish it didn’t? Let’s check it out!

PRAYER

#1 THE BIBLE AND TAXES

There are about 15 verses in Scripture which deal with the subject of taxes. Allow me to refer to 3 subjects to give an idea of both the Old and New Testament understandings:

A. Illustration #1. We all remember the story of the shepherd boy David. He came alongside to bring food to his brothers who were in battle against the enemies of Israel, the Philistines. We remember the giant, Goliath, coming out and making a challenge. We remember David drawing 5 smooth stones out of the brook, placing one in his well-used sling, and with a very deft throw piercing the giant’s skull – soon killing the giant with the giant’s own sword. But do we remember what King Saul offered any slayers of the giant? 1 Sam. 17:25 says in part, “The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.” I’m sure David’s dad, Jesse, was overwhelmed to be the recipient of such a kingly gesture! Wouldn’t you be?

B. Illustration # 2. In the book of Ezra, there are several astute references to taxes. First, the opponents of the building of the wall were concerned that the success of its completion would mean that Persia would no longer receive taxes from Israel (Ezra 4:13). Of course, this charge was false – but it was used as a means of encouraging the King of Persia to issue a stop order for the rebuilding of the security walls of Jerusalem. And when the wall was complete, and the service of the temple was once again in order, one of the standing orders – as per Jewish law – was the amazing reminder by the King of Persia that the people of Israel “have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of [their own] priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.” (Ezra 7:24). The subject of taxes was indeed most important in the Old Testament!

C. Illustration #3. In our “Call to Worship” , Romans 13 was cited to show the heart of God concerning taxes in New Testament times. Let’s re-read vs. 6-7. What is the amazing thing of this passage? At the time of that writing, Israel was under Roman law. The taxes referred to were not being given to build up the nation of Israel. They were given to build up Rome! And yet the NT principle is that Christians of all generations and under all governments are as best as possible to be model citizens. Taxes are to be a part of that privilege of being a citizen of the country in which one dwells. Ouch? Or “in everything give thanks”? So even the New Testament encourages especially Christian citizens to show their submission to the laws of their land.

#2 THE LORD JESUS AND TAXES

You are probably familiar with the passage in Luke 20. The teachers of the law and the chief priests saw the Savior as being at the least an opponent of the law, and at best, a threat to their rule over the spiritual guidance of Israel.

In the familiar passage of Luke 20, they sent what the text calls “spies” to trap Him so that His Words would justify their arresting Him for treason to both Israel and to Rome. They asked the classic question, “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” The question was a well-placed trap. If He said yes, the Jews would be upset that He was on the side of their enemy, the Romans. But if He said, “no”, then these spies could turn Him over to Rome as a traitor of the state.

You remember His classic answer to their classic question: “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

In just a few short words, our Savior showed the totality of a model countrymen even within times which were harsh to the country’s citizens.

Let’s not forget the verse which follows that line: “They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.” That should be a lesson to us modern day citizens: allow the Word of God to change the hearts of those who are most bitter to the Word.

#3 PETER GOES FISHING FOR TAXES (Matt. 17:24-27)

Perhaps this passage in Matthew is simply the gospel writer Matthew’s remembrance of the same incident recorded above in Luke 20. But in his wry way, Matthew shares the lesson through the eyes of an apostle, Peter, rather than through the eyes of the Savior.

Once again, there are several important lessons for us present day citizens:

1. Jesus’ disciples will be grilled (v. 24). In a very visual example of whether or not Peter knew what he really believed, or if he really knew what the heart of the Savior is on any given subject, his quick response to these tax collectors’ question shows one definitive answer: Peter really didn’t know what he believed. He perhaps was more interested to get these tax collectors out of his space than he was in sharing the Savior’s insights.

But more importantly, what Peter should have learned is the lesson we should learn: our faith, if it is genuine, should be able to stand any test, any trial, any inquisition – whether from the enemy or from friends.

Turn to Acts 4:7-12. Peter was a minister in the amazing healing of a crippled beggar (Acts 3). By Acts 4, the religious rulers of Peter’s day questioned how he and his co-workers did what they did. In essence, they were asking, “how is it that you, a common fisherman, are trying to have more authority in spiritual matters than we seasoned spiritual leaders do?”

Verse 12 is a life verse: “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Jesus disciples will be grilled – be prepared to answer!

2. Jesus’ disciples need to learn of Him (vs. 25-26)

So how does a disciple get prepared to answer the questions of faith? By learning of Jesus!

And how do you and I get prepared to answer the questions of faith? By learning of Jesus – through His written word! So let me ask you – for only you know the answer. Are you in the Word of God more than just the few minutes of the Sunday morning service? Without a show of hands, how many of you have more than one Bible in your home? And how many of those stay closed during the week? That is not to be a judgmental observation. It is meant to be an encouraging prod to get you into the Word of God on a more regular basis. For starters, there are 31 chapters in Proverbs. Why not read each day the chapter which corresponds to that day of the month? There are 150 psalms. Why not read 5 psalms per day – and you’ll have the entire book of psalms read on a regular monthly basis. There are 4 gospels. Why not read ONE chapter in the gospels each day – and continue the cycle of reading through the gospels throughout the year. There are 66 books in the Bible. Why not read 3 chapters a day and maybe 5 on Sunday – and you will have read the entire Bible in less than one year!

Get prepared to answer the questions of faith by being a student of the book which encourages faith. Remember Romans 10:17: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

Learn of Jesus.

CONCLUSION

Jesus disciples had one more lesson to learn, and so do we. We need to be surprised by Him in our trust (v. 27).

So the seasoned fisherman succumbs to Jesus’ authority that, though he is a citizen of heaven, he shows that citizenship by being a model citizen of the country in which he lives.

And in order to show that model citizenry, he pays the required taxes of that country.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, what happens next?

At the prodding of the Son of God, the seasoned fisherman, Peter, goes fishing. The Savior of the world, the Creator of the world, gives Peter some fishy story about going fishing to catch the required funds needed to pay taxes. WHAT?

Peter catches one fish. And in the mouth of that fish – not in the fish’s belly or on a snagged line or anywhere else – will be the coin which represents the tax sum required by the local government.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Peter learned to be surprised by Jesus in his own trust in the Savior. The Savior would be true to Himself. The Savior would be true to His Word. And the Savior could be trusted. In essence, He was saying, “And I will supply all of your needs according to My riches in glory.”

It is tax week. And don’t be surprised when the King of the universe cares that you pay your taxes! In so doing, you just may show to someone that Jesus alone is worthy of their eternal trust.

Close in Prayer

First Baptist Church, 9 West Main St. Earlville, NY 13332

Inviting and Accepting

Blogs, John Grant, Uncategorized

CASTING NETS

Week Sixteen, 2018

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:18-22

Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, a sea or more appropriately a large lake. Fishing boats and nets dotted the coastline, as the sea is full of fish and fish were a main staple of all of Palestine.

The fish would be caught, salted for preservation and then journey to places like Jerusalem for consumption. Fishing was the main source of income for those in the area. Fishermen were not employed, but rather derived their income in exchange for the number of fish they caught, so basically if they didn’t catch fish, they didn’t eat.

Jesus came upon two brothers, Simon and Andrew who were fishing (earning income) at the time and simply said, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

Immediately, they left their nets and followed Him. Then they came upon two others, James and John, who were mending their nets (equipping their tools to earn income). Jesus called out to them an invitation to follow Him and immediately the brothers followed, leaving their boat, their nets and their father.

All four followed immediately, not knowing what was ahead or how they would earn a living. They simply answered the call in blind faith. They didn’t wait to secure their boat, store their nets or bid farewell to their family. They responded immediately.

In the same way, Jesus is calling us to follow Him, not tomorrow, next month or once we stop to get all of our ducks in a row. He calls us to follow Him immediately.

Following Jesus takes more than simply believing in him or doing what he asks of us. Jesus wants you to be more than just a believer — He wants you to be his disciple and friend. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus seeks after us. He comes to meet us and beckons us to follow him. He calls us to be his disciples, to trust him, to open ourselves to his merciful love, and to love others as he has loved us.

Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”. What does following Jesus look like for you? What would it look like if we followed Christ like the first disciples? Jesus said, “Follow me” and immediately they left their nets and followed Him. They left their boat and left their father to follow Him. What nets do you have in your life to leave behind? Who would you abandon to follow Jesus? What impact could we have on the world if today everyone who claims to follow Christ actually dropped everything…. their plans, their pleasures, their position without looking back? Will you follow in obedience like the first disciples?

What nets do you have to cast away to follow Jesus?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

NEIGHBORLY:

Nearly 30% of Americans don’t know their neighbor’s first name, according to a 2017 survey by home security company Safe Home. That’s a shame! Especially since being friendly with those on your block has a range of benefits ranging from boosting your mood to actually protecting you from a heart attack.

After all, your neighbors don’t just conveniently live nearby; they also have diverse talents you can tap. (“Hello, doc! So glad you moved in next door! Can you look at this thing on my arm?”) They have appliances you can borrow. (Why not test the Instant Pot before you actually buy one?) And if you’re lucky, they’ll offer invaluable kindness that will extend much further than the occasional cup of sugar—and save you money in the process.

You can save big bucks on house sitters, baby sitters, and pet sitters. When you need someone to watch your loved ones, keep an eye on your house, or check your mail, it’s easiest—and cheapest—to head next door.

When we go on vacation, your neighbors and watch each other’s house, so no cost for a house sitter.”

If you’re friendly with your neighbors, you might be able to ask them for rides to and from the airport or other places you need to go.

Certain home problems—especially ones that involve water or fire—are time-sensitive. Every minute can cost you a little bit more. If you know the neighbors around you well enough, they’ll be your eyes and ears when you’re not home.

How well, if at all, do you know your neighbors?

–o–

Three facts to stir you up:

1. 80% of what you do every day could be done by anyone.

2. 15% of what you do every day could be done by someone else with a little coaching.

3. 5% of what you do is stuff only you can do. How you spend that 5% matters.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The greatest difficulty in conversion is to win the heart to God; the greatest difficulty after conversion is to keep the heart with God.” (John Flavil)

Ponce de Leon was looking for the fountain of youth, but the Bible provides the fountain of life.

When we spend time in the Bible, it becomes our Joy.

The Bible meets the challenges of life in a Biblical way.

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. ©Thoughts on Life, Copyright 2018.

©2018 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618

Almon Bartholomew, Blogs, Uncategorized

“YOUR FAITH, YOUR TREASURE”

(Part One)

By Almon Bartholomew

“For I say, through the grace of God given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3, KJV.

“For it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV

Also Read: Hebrews 11:1-6; 32-40 And Jude 20-21.

At what price would you sell out your faith? Of what value is it to you? These are the questions for which we seek answers. What price FAITH? Some have valued it lightly. Others have literally died for their faith, not willing to make a bad bargain.

Years ago I ran across what I believe is a profound statement. “Faith is the currency of Heaven”. It is the medium of exchange. Even though the dollar is shrinking, it is still the medium of exchange for goods and services here in America. Those goods and services may be found in the yellow pages, but they are purchased with the green stuff! Heaven has no shortage of the things we most need. In exchange for our faith they are made abundantly available to us. Jesus advised us in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” and then all of these things on our “needs list”, not our “wish list”, would be provided for. Faith is the currency, the medium of exchange, by which we obtain these heavenly and earthly commodities.

But, we say, “We don’t have any faith”. The Bible says we do. According one of the verses in our text God has given every person a measure of faith. When we say we have no faith it is probably because we have buried it somewhere. It has not risen to the surface above all the” stuff” under which it is hidden. You see, what we don’t use, we lose. For lack of usage and personal reliance upon faith which comes from God, as a gift, it becomes dormant in the depth of our being. Get it out today. Retrieve it. Brush off the dust and decay. Begin to put it to work. We must stop denying its reality.

I am sure there is a deep desire in each of us gathered here today to please God. I am positive that no one wishes to displease him. That would have some dreadful consequences. How, then shall we, can we, please him?

Hebrews chapter one gives a definition of faith and then makes a declarative statement as to the proven benefit of its exercise. Faith is herein described as the substance which provides hope and the evidence of the reality of the unseen. Hope from a worldly source becomes a Russian roulette approach to life. It is a flimsy hope which has no substance upon which to stand. Our faith is in the power and reality of the unseen God. Faith, as a gift from God, provides for us the evidence of his presence, his nearness, his power, his unfailing love and His care for each of us. It is all the evidence we need.

Without that faith, we can not and will not please God. We must affirm that he is, that he exists. When we pray and seek him he will reward us as we diligently and determinedly search him out. He is there and He is here, above, among, and around us. His presence has come to indwell us, to live in our hearts. The song written by Ray price says it so well, “How big is God, how great and wide his vast domain, to try to tell my lips can only start. He’s big enough to fill his mighty universe, yet small enough to live within my heart.”

The Apostle Jude admonishes believers to “build up ourselves in this most holy faith”. We are enabled to do this by praying in the power generated by the Holy Spirit. So, we rely upon the Holy Spirit to help us to pray according the will of God in each matter of need and concern which may confront us. We are further encouraged by Jude to “keep ourselves in the love of God”, move by that divine impulse. It opens the door of mercy which leads to eternal life.

Now, for those of us who think that life is tough. In this 11th chapter of Hebrews we are given examples, one after the other, of God enabled achievements by individuals whose faith set a high bench mark for we who follow. After the recital of these great feats of faith, there is a grouping of people whose victories have been recorded which were all made possible by faith. Faith has been the common denominator, and the prominent factor as they encountered a legion insurmountable odds. Walk with me as together we march through Hebrews 11:32-38:

  1. Through their faith they subdued kingdoms

  2. Through faith they performed righteous works.

  3. Through faith they saw God’s promises fulfilled.

  4. Through faith they shut the jaws of lions.

  5. Through faith they quenched the flames of fire.

  6. Through faith they escaped the edge of the sword.

  7. Through faith, they shed weakness & found strength.

  8. Through faith they became valiant heroes in battle.

  9. By faith they turned back alien armies.

  10. By faith, women received their dead back to life.

  11. By faith they endured torture.

  12. By faith they endured scourging, mocking, prison.

  13. By faith they endured stoning.

  14. By faith they suffered bodily dismemberment.

  15. By faith they fought against temptation.

  16. By faith they endured destitution, affliction and tormenting.

  17. By faith they dwelt in mountains, dens, caves and deserts.

  18. By faith they kept a good testimony.

And we think we have problems. The truth is, we by comparison, have it pretty easy. This is not so in many parts of the world. In many places our Christian brothers and sisters are horribly persecuted for their faith. They are ostracized, jobless, beaten, jailed, and even put to death. Asian, Arabic and African countries have dealt fierce punishment to Christian believers. Europe has becoming increasingly unfriendly to the faith. And we face more threats in our country than we may realize.

A secularized, liberal society is trying to eliminate God from every public arena. They have done it in our schools. They have commanded our military chaplains to not pray in the name of Jesus. The ACLU seeks to strip “In God We Trust” from our currency and the Ten Commandments from our courthouses. Christians are more and more the subject of public humiliation. Yet we are reminded in Scripture we “have not yet resisted unto blood” Hebrews 12:4. We are getting a wake up call. Our faith and testimony is, and it will be tested more and more. We must not be the star actor in a self destructive, personal pity party. Let us rise up to the occasion which is before us in the eternal conflict between good and evil. “This is the victory which overcomes the world, even your faith,” I John 5:4.

Back to the beginning of this message; “What price FAITH? If you had a rare, original Rembrandt painting worth $10,000,000.00 you would do everything to protect and preserve this rare art treasure. We need no less diligence in preserving and protecting what the scriptures define as “precious faith”. This faith is precious and must be kept, must be exercised, must be practiced. It is absolutely irreplaceable!

Let us take up the challenge of Revelation 2:10, “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.”

“YOUR FAITH; YOUR TREASURE”

PART TWO

By Almon Bartholomew

We begin today by reaching back to part one, and the question, “What price Faith”? Some have considered it to be of little or no value. Others have given their lives for it.

Our Bible has much to say about this faith. On, at least, 33 occasions the New Testament refers to faith as “the faith”. By repeated emphasis, it has specific qualities. It is personal as reflected in many references such as “thy” faith, “his” faith, “their” faith, “her” faith, “our” faith. It justifies, it sanctifies and it enlightens. It saves, obtains promises, stabilizes when the going gets tough and gains Heaven’s favor. “It is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”. It is described scripturally as most holy, precious, unfeigned, bold, common, effectual (effective), and as a gift from God. It proudly stands among the righteous trio of virtues, “now abides faith, hope. love, these three”.

Let there be no doubt about it, faith has a high intrinsic value supported by a solid body of truth which can, and does, translate into real life circumstances. It is the faith to which the apostles confirmed the early church. It is the faith the reformers brought the church back to. It is the faith which fired the age of revivalism. It is the faith the circles the globe through the message of countless missionaries. It is the faith resident in the heart of God fearing people, which gives passion to our message of hope in Christ and burns in the hearts Christian believers around the world and right here in us, right now.

Having identified that faith, how do we establish its worth? What gives it value? If we consider it to be priceless, what is the standard of measurement by which we make such an evaluation? Let us take a practical (empirical) approach.

The worth of a product or service is determined by a fivefold standard of measurement:

  1. It’s rarity. Is it obtained from a single source or is it something found among many inventories?

  2. What is the cost attached to providing the product or service; the cost of acquisition?

  3. Does its performance match its promise?

  4. It’s durability, its longevity. Is it designed for early obsolescence, or is it long term in nature?

  5. What affect would the removal of such product or service have upon their users? Is it indispensable or can a suitable substitute be provided?

Let us look at the first criterion. How rare, and from what source is the product or service available? Our faith, our salvation, the gospel we preach comes from one supplier. God himself is the sole provider of Salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares “For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast”. Salvation comes from an exclusive source, God Almighty! Isaiah, the prophet, delivers God’s undiluted message:

“I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me”. (Isaiah 45:5)

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song: he also is become my salvation,” Isaiah 12:2.

The prophet Jonah adds “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving: I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord,” Jonah 2:9.

Secondly, a product or service has worth because of the cost of acquisition. It cost heaven a dear price to provide for our salvation. God did not take the cheap way out. When the Lord made available a “Pearl of great price”, He picked up the tab. Philippians chapter two reveals the price Jesus paid for our faith. Starting out with equality with God the Father, our Lord left heaven, descended to earth, became a man, and humbled himself. He died at cruel hands. His final suffering came by hanging on a cross between two thieves, and He was buried in a borrowed tomb.

“Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow”. If value is determined by the price paid to obtain it, then our faith, our salvation, is BEYOND priceless!

Not all products and services perform as promised. That is proven by the numbers of scam artists at work today. This brings us to our third test of worth. Can we bank on the promises made by this faith? ABSOLUTELY!

Since Jesus Christ died on the cross, and rose again in resurrection power, literally hundreds of millions of people have testified that he keeps his word! He has rewarded the faith these persons have placed in him with undeniable confidence. He gives salvation from sin, and the start of a new life. He has done what he said he would do. His performance matches his promise! The gospel of Jesus Christ is true, if for no other reason, it works. It makes a drastic difference in the lives of those who place their trust in him. Let me underscore this truth once more; the gospel is of great worth because it performs exactly according to its promise!

Fourth on this list is value linked to durability. This faith has withstood the ravages of time. Uncounted efforts have been made to stamp out the Christian faith. Hot persecution, including martyrdom, beatings, reprisal, and banishment could not kill this faith. Political pressure, governmental edicts, severe discrimination, destruction of Bibles and the outlawing of free assembly for religious services could not destroy it. This thing is built for rough usage and it was made to last. There is no planned obsolescence here. Evil will never triumph over Almighty God. He, and the faith He gives us, has enduring power.

This is the faith that believers have carried into every experience in life. It is good in the good times and it is good in the bad. The undeniable sense of God’s sustaining grace abides through all of life, through death itself, and frees us to enter into His glorious, unrestricted presence in heaven. We sing with ever increasing faith, “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows. The more that I love Him, the more love He bestows. Each day is like heaven, His love overflows. The longer I serve

Him, the sweeter He grows“.

Number five in this standard of measurement considers what affect would it have upon the users if such product or service should be removed from them. It focuses on the indispensable quality of the Christian faith.

Had it not been for this faith this world would be an ugly place in which to live. Unregenerate hearts would still be unregenerate. Christian influence upon morals, the quality of life, civil law, music, the arts, the sciences, and the sense of community would leave an unfillable void. And, should all the years of its impact upon mankind be removed, society would be devastated. This faith, this gospel; this vital, essential Christianity, has absolutely no substitute. Its worth to the world of mankind and each individual believer is incalculable.

When cannibals first received the gospel in the South Sea Islands, a French trader visited one of their islands. As an unbeliever, he chided them for accepting Christianity. He asked them what the gospel had ever done for them. They replied, “We don’t know what it has done for us, but it sure has helped you. Without it, you would have already been boiling in our pot”! A world absent this gospel is unthinkable.

For some, the faith has come and gone cheaply. Esau exchanged his birthright for a pot of chili. Judas traded an apostleship for thirty pieces of silver. A rich young ruler preferred worldly wealth to eternal life. Demas forsook the world to come for the world that now is.

While this may be fact, many have been willing to die for their faith. Those who have died for their faith in the past hundred years are more than those martyred since early church history. The book titled “By Their Blood” written by James and Marti Hefley recounts the record of those who have given their lives in behalf of the gospel in the 20th century. There were more who made the supreme sacrifice for Christ in the 20th century than in all of those who laid down their lives in the previous centuries combined.

People among our own great fellowship and throughout the immense missionary movements of the world have paid an awesome price to share the gospel. I have been moved to tears while reading the book written by the Hefleys. I want to refer to one of the accounts, that of a woman missionary who gave her life while sharing this worthy, workable faith.

During the Boxer rebellion in China 1900-1905 there were 153 missionaries and 13 of their children who were slain. Beyond this tens of thousand of Chinese national believers were slaughtered. One of the noblest testimonies I’ve heard is recorded in this book:

“Anti-foreign mobs continued to lengthen the trail of blood of the Christian missionaries. Dr. Eleanor Chestnut an orphan girl from Waterloo, Iowa was among them. Raised by a poor aunt in the backwoods of Missouri, she skimped and starved to get through Park College.

“After studies at Moody Bible Institute, Dr. Chestnut was appointed by the then American Presbyterian Board to China in 1893.She started a hospital in Lien-Chow, Kwangsi, the Province adjoining Hong Kong. She lived on $1.50 per month so that the rest of her salary could buy bricks to build a clinic. Her board learned what she was spending on bricks, and insisted on paying her. She refused the sum offered, saying, “It will spoil all my fun”.

“While the building was under construction, she performed surgery in her bathroom. One operation involved the amputation of a coolie’s leg. The surgery was successful, except that the flaps did not grow together. Eventually the problem was solved, and he was able to walk with the aid of crutches. Someone noticed that Dr. Chestnut was limping. When asked why, she responded, “Oh, it is nothing”. One of the nurses revealed the truth. Using only a local anesthetic, the doctor had taken skin from her own leg for immediate transplant to the one whom nurses had called “a good for nothing coolie”.

“On October 23:1905, Dr. Chestnut and other missionaries were busy in a hospital when an anti-foreign mob attacked. She slipped out of the hospital to ask for protection from Chinese authorities, and might have escaped had she not returned to help her fellow workers. Her last act was to tear strips from her dress to bandage a wound in the forehead of a boy in the crowd. She was slain along with four other missionaries.”

Friends, now is the time to determine what this faith is worth to us. Let us declare, “Our faith; our treasure”! This is our eternal heritage. Don’t sell your birthright for a bowl of chili as did Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. Check out the difference between the temporal and the eternal. Your faith, your treasure is priceless. We must make it the number one, non-tradable possession of our lives.

Rev. Al Bartholomew was, for many years, a pastor in western New York.

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

“THE EARTH IS FULL”

By Jeremy B. Stopford

April 8, 2018

TODAY’S FUNNY:

“A River Funny”
A lady standing by the river sees another lady on the opposite bank.
Lady #1: “Yoo-hoo! Hello over there! How can I get to the other side of the river?”
Lady #2: “HELLO — you ARE on the other side of the river.”

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever felt depressed? No, I don’t mean the kind where you need to spend thousands of dollars for a therapist. But have you ever been so overwhelmed by life that you fail even to see the hand of God on your every day? The other day as I was reading my Bible, a phrase stuck out – and I was so surprised to find the times it appeared in Scriptures. And I had never noticed it before. I hope this is an encouragement to you as to how BIG our awesome God is! PRAYER

THE EARTH IS FULL …

#1 OF GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE (Psalm 33:5)
* This is our introduction to the phrase “the earth is full”.
* What other versions call “unfailing love”: lovingkindness; goodness; faithful love; grace; His loyalty/covenant love; constant love; mercy; affectionate satisfaction.
* Any one of these phrases is sufficient. But note “covenant love” – God is in an agreement with the world that He will love the world – and on the cross He displayed that love. A covenant means that God is obligating Himself to show His unfailing love! And “affectionate satisfaction” caught my attention – I am in a daily battle to be satisfied, to have my hunger and thirst quenched. And when I realize that my true hunger and thirst is for Him, He readily quenches them. He satisfies. But the one which REALLY caught my attention is “mercy” – for without the cross, there is no true mercy!
* The heart of this psalm: Note v. 7: “He gathers the waters of the sea into jars”; and v. 9: “He spoke, and it came to be”. Dr. Ken Ham of the Creation Museum fame said that Christians shoot their arrows at the by-products of unbelief (such as abortion, euthanasia, and other “issues”). The world shoots its arrows at the foundation: creation. If they can disprove that the Lord is Creator, then there is no need to trust Him.
* Note how the psalm ends: v. 21-22 a trust, a prayer for God’s unfailing love to be our daily hope! The earth is full of unfailing love – now if only we look!

#2 OF GOD’S CREATURES (Psalm 104:24)
* Psalm 104 is often called the psalm of creation. All the days of creation are on display in this psalm.
* V. 1 and vs. 33-34 are bookends in this psalm. The unnamed psalmist begins with praise (v. 1). He ends in hope (vs. 33-34). He looks forward to a world where God is honored, and sinners are no longer the controlling voice of the world.
* Let’s zero in on our text, v. 24. “The earth is full of your creatures.” In fact, at the start of the verse the psalmist says that God’s works are many!
ILLUSTRATION: Spring is coming. Well, sometime here in the northeast. Perhaps before July. And with spring comes many different creatures. I’ve already seen evidence that moles and other creatures have found warmth in our backyard. Squirrels are once again putting away for next winter – my cat and I watched two squirrels fighting for the same food! And pretty soon flowers and other intricate evidences of God’s hand – along with, yes, WEEDS, will be in the yard. And instead of plowing snow, grass will have to be mowed. NY State is quite the place to see daily evidence of God’s creatures.
ILLUSTRATION #2. I was talking to one of the older residences at Norwich Rehab. He was fascinated with all the different creatures that have been discovered many thousands of feet below the water’s surface – yet many seem to be making their way to beaches. Our creation scientists would remind us of the many creatures that disappeared as a result of both the flood and of the ice age. And many are making a comeback.
The psalmist would remind us, not to shy away in fear, but to be still in awe at the earth being full of His creatures!

#3 OF GOD’S LOVE (Psalm 119:64)
Psalm 119 is God’s ode to His own Word, the Bible. Each of the 176 verses in this psalm has something to say about a specific part of the Word of God.
Note v. 62, one of my favorite of this psalm. How many of you are up during the middle of the night and can’t sleep. So what do you do? Count sheep? Play games on the computer? Count to 100, then back again? The psalmist said he does what? Gives thanks to God! The time is well spent, perhaps in reviewing the many unappreciated evidences of God’s help on display during the previous day. And the time is well spent in thanking God for His help for the coming day. Wow. Worship at midnight!
And then the psalmist declares (v. 64) that the earth is filled with God’s love. WHAT? All I see is hate. Prejudice. Rebellions. Riots. Protests. Refusal to work. Sit-ins. Movements for a cause. Denials of history – and then the attempts to re-write or even destroy history – when it concerns slavery or any other subject which shows the dark sides of man.
But the psalmist says WHAT? That the earth is filled with God’s love! Is it possible that we are so inundated with the hatred by the world that we fail to see God’s love in the world?
But while you’re dwelling on that, look how the psalmist applies this truth! IF I am looking for God’s love on display throughout the earth, then I should seek to be taught to obey God’s word. Sometimes I’m so quick to yell I fail to listen to be taught. God wants to teach me. Am I a good student?

CONCLUSION

As we come to today’s communion service, I was both overwhelmingly yet pleasantly surprised where this phrase appears one more time. Isaiah 6:3: “the whole earth is full of His glory.”
Look at the context. Isaiah was in mourning. King Uzziah had died. And while no doubt Isaiah was contemplating the transitions of the kingdom, the Lord Himself shows Isaiah the true kingdom – God’s kingdom.
The whole earth is full – not only of God’s unfailing love, and of His creatures, and of His love. But it is also full of His glory!
This passage would simply be perhaps another random passage except for a New Testament connection. In John 12:41, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John tells us that this passage in Isaiah is talking about none other than the Lord Jesus Himself.
The whole earth is full of the glory of the Lord Jesus! He is on display! His grace, His mercy, His unfailing love, His constant love, His affectionate satisfaction; His creation. His love which begs to be heard.
Jesus is on display! As we come to the communion service, the heart of the service is that the Savior is on display – and directly at the cross!
He would ask of us today, “am I on display in your heart, in your walk, in your love, in your appreciation of and attention to the details of His display in a world which is blind to His display?” Is He?

Close in Prayer

Inviting and Accepting
Blogs, John Grant

Wisdom

Week Fifteen, 2018

Wisdom

By Senator John Grant (Retired)

Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. Job 12:12

When I was in school, they were my favorite musical group and not mine alone, they were number one across the world for years until they were passed by The Beatles. They were known as The Kingston Trio, an American folk and pop music group that helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s to late 1960s. They rose to international popularity, fueled by unprecedented sales of LP records, and helped to alter the direction of popular music in the U.S.

They started in 1958 with the release of their first album and its hit recording of “Tom Dooley”, which sold over three million copies as a single. The Trio released nineteen albums that made Billboard’s Top 100, fourteen of which ranked in the top 10, and five of which hit the number 1 spot. The Trio was described as “the most envied, the most imitated, and the most successful singing group, folk or otherwise, in all show business” and “the undisputed kings of the folk singing rage by every yardstick.”

Everyone knew who they were and most could sing their songs. Recently, when I heard that they were coming to town, I rushed to get tickets, as did a lot of my era.

Today, the millennials have never heard of them. When I mentioned to our young music minister that I was going, he asked, “What’s that, are they from Jamaica?”

We old folks know a lot that the younger generation don’t know and they don’t know that they don’t know it. When I was young, I now wish I had listened to the wisdom and advice of the older generation. It would have saved me from a lot of heartache and trouble.

The Bible extols the wisdom of maturity. Ancient Israel’s 12 tribes split into two competing factions — Israel in the north and Judah in the south. This rancorous rupture of a once-united nation occurred for one simple, primary reason: the new king listened to the bad advice of his youthful companions and rejected the sound counsel of the older men of Israel.

Proverbs 20:18, tells us to get good advice and you will succeed; don’t go charging into battle without a plan. A wise man or woman is one who listens to advice. This is in contrast to a fool, who looks to himself as the source of wisdom.

But it’s not just advice that we need. Rehoboam got advice from his young companions, but it was wrong advice! It led to catastrophe for the king. So remember, it’s not just counsel, but good counsel that we need from others.

The Scriptures give a number of illustrations where that good counsel is likely to be drawn out of the older men and women, who have lived a long life and learned many valuable lessons. And by “older”, I mean those significantly older than the one seeking advice.

As a younger, do you seek and follow advice from more wise and experienced elders? As elders, do you take time to counsel with and impart your wisdom to the younger generation? That’s what the Bible tells us to do.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

PRAYER

C. S. Lewis from his book, “God in the Dock”, offers this interesting bit of dialogue regarding prayer.

“Praying for particular things,” said I, “always seems to me like advising God how to run the world. Wouldn’t it be wiser to assume that He knows best?”

“On the same principle,” said he, “I suppose you never ask a man next to you to pass the salt, because God knows best whether you ought to have salt or not. And I suppose you never take an umbrella, because God knows best whether you ought to be wet or dry.”

“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.

Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.” – Habakkuk 3:1-2

–o–

JEHOVA’S WITNESS

Saturday morning the weather was too bad to play golf. I was bored with nothing to do. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. I opened it to find a young, well- dressed man standing there who said:

“Hello sir, I’m a Jehovah’s Witness.” So I said, “Come in and sit down.” I offered him a fresh cup of coffee and asked, “What do you want to talk about?” He said, “Beats me. Never got this far before..”

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

There is no right way to do a wrong thing. —Norman Vincent Peale

If Jesus Possesses Absolute Authority, then He Is Worthy of Absolute Allegiance. He has authority over the physically uncleaned, the ethnically outcast and over demons. As Christians, we need to trust wholeheartedly in His ability, rest peacefully in His sovereignty, submit completely and rejoice gladly in His eternity. —Ken Whitten

Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning”. Ex 20:20

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2018.

©2018 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618
Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

Evidence that Demands a Verdict

TODAY’S FUNNY

“Fear of Flying” There was a religious woman who had to do a lot of traveling for her business. Flying made her very nervous, so she always took her Bible along with her.
One time, she was sitting next to a man. When he saw her pull out her Bible, he gave a little chuckle and smirk and went back to what he was doing.
After awhile, he turned to her and asked, “You don’t really believe all that stuff in there do you?”
The woman replied, “Of course I do. It is the Bible.”
He said, “Well, what about that guy that was swallowed by that whale?”
She replied, “Oh, Jonah. Yes, I believe that, it is in the Bible.”
He asked, “Well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the whale?”
The woman said, “Well, I don’t really know. I guess when I get to heaven, I will ask him.”
“What if he isn’t in heaven?” the man asked sarcastically.
“Then you can ask him,” replied the woman.

INTRODUCTION

Years ago, a book was written entitled, “Evidence That Demands a Verdict” by Josh McDowell. It has recently been updated by Josh and his son, and the new title is “Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World”. With apologies to the McDowells, I use the same title to describe what our Savior has shared in this one of several chapters dealing with His resurrection. For if we are given truth, and it is presented as truth, each of us must make a personal decision as to what to do with that truth: accept it, reject it, or without reservation apply it to our lives. So the question before us today is: what will we do with the evidence for the resurrection of our Lord Jesus? What will you do? PRAYER

EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT

#1 The first day of the week (v. 1) The timing of our Savior’s resurrection was perfect. It was the day after the sabbath. It was Sunday. Today. The Bible says that an amazing thing happened that first Resurrection Day: a) The veil being torn in two, the Jewish rituals no longer had any need. Every man, woman, boy and girl could enter into God’s presence by way of the cross. And the early church took note of that: they fellowshipped on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”. Yes! I still have more time to preach! The Bible also says the early church took up their collections together on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:2: “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” Why do you suppose Paul made that distinction? Why do yo suppose he didn’t say, “on Monday”, or “whenever convenient”? Because the first day of the week is the Resurrection Day. The early church knew it. And so should we!

#2 The ladies were given a place of honor (v. 1ff) to be among the first eyewitnesses of the evidences of the resurrection. We learn from John 4 that women in Jesus’ day were, if you will, second class citizens. But not so to our Savior. And not only that, they were reminded to “remember” what the Savior said about “the third day”. The Bible records at least 10 instances in which the Savior told His disciples that He would be crucified, buried, and on the third day rise from the dead. And in each case, the pattern was the same: unbelief, uncertainty, and a change of subject. For example, see Luke 9:43-48. In verse 43, He foretells the events of the cross. By v. 46, the disciples were concerned about who would be the greatest in His kingdom. So for these women to be among those early eyewitnesses, this was special. AND their visit was full of faith, in contrast to the disciples, as in our text, v. 11, “they did not believe the women” and their words seemed like nonsense to the disciples – those who had heard the prophecies and those who should have believed first. What does the Bible have to say about this? 1 Cor. 2:14 says, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Is the Bible confusing to you? Are its words even like foolishness to you? Then you are verifying that the Bible is true! You need to be like these ladies – trust that what the Bible says is true, then see where it must be applied to your life! In Romans 10:9-10, 13 the Bible says, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The truth of the resurrection is life changing – and these ladies knew it! Do you?

#3 Everyone is in a search for God. Look at v. 12, “But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.” When you first heard the comment, “Jesus loves you, He died for your sins, and He invites you to trust Him – He alone is worthy of your trust” – what did you think? Religious mumbo-jumbo? Foolishness? Well, once again, you are verifying at least two truths! First, each one of us – like even Peter! – is on a journey for truth. The Lord meets you right where you are. Sometimes your answers are found right away. Sometimes you think through the questions of the heart. That is your journey to true faith. Because true faith is not a religion. It is not church. It is not ritual. It is a relationship with the living God – you know, the One Whose resurrection we celebrate today and declare, “He’s Alive!”. But secondly, you are verifying that the Bible is foolishness to those who don’t believe. The Bible even says that of itself! Look at 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, in particular vs. 18,21: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.:21
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” Everyone is in a search for God – and invariably, that search will either take you to the cross and the death, burial, and resurrection of the Savior, AND to a living relationship with the living God – or it will take you away from the cross and to an empty journey. Where are you today?

#4 Moses, the Psalms, the Prophets all spoke of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (v. 27, 45-46). V. 27 was the theme verse of the Bible School from which I was first graduated in the 1970’s.
Moses (Deut. 18:15) said to look for the true Prophet, and the NT identifies that as Jesus.
Micah 5:1-2, a most obscure OT prophet, not only tells that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, but that He is eternal, literally “from days of eternity”. Only the eternal Savior could fulfill this prophecy.
The Psalms talk about Jesus’ death. Psalm 22 talks about the crucifixion of the Messiah, years before the Romans ever invented crucifixion as a means of capital punishment.
Psalm 49:15 talks of the Messiah’s resurrection.
Psalm 69 give intimate details of Jesus’ crucifixion which only a prophet would know (through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration!)
Isaiah 50-53 tell how the Messiah would die, not for His sins, but for those of the world (“He was wounded for my transgressions; He was bruised for my iniquities” “as a sheep before his shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth” “all we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all”. Pretty personal – have you applied this?

CONCLUSION

Like Mr. McDowell (and now his son) before us, the Bible has evidence that demands a verdict. Let’s be reminded of just a taste of the evidence that the resurrection chapter tells us:
#1 The resurrection was on the first day of the week – and all of history immediately changed as a result!
#2 The ladies on that first Resurrection Day were given a place of honor – those who were normally put down by society were examples to us today that EVERYONE can be an eyewitness of the resurrection – by way of faith in the written Word of God.
#3 The Bible tells us that we are on a journey, but the journey has an Object which can be met: the Lord Jesus. Not a ritual. Not an empty religion. But a relationship with the living and true God.
#4 Throughout the Scriptures – from Genesis through Revelation – there is demanding evidence of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Savior Who is eternally God Who became man – that He might have a body with which to die for the sin of man. The Scriptures invite us to trust the living God and His written Word. Have you?

The Bible has a wonderful invitation

John 1:12-13 say, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

It is Easter time, but like Christmas time of a few months ago, the Bible invites us to receive a gift – a relationship with the living and true Savior, even the Lord Jesus.

How about you? Where are you in your journey of faith? What do you say to this introductory evidence – and there is so much more – that demands a verdict?

What is your verdict today?

Close in Prayer

This Easter Message was delivered at the 
SonRise Service, April 1, 2018
by the Reverend Jeremy Stopford, Pastor
First Baptist Church,  
9 West Main St. Earlville, NY 13332
Inviting and Accepting
 

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